Combo Class Management

Last school year I had the pleasure of teaching a 1-2 combo. It was my first combo. And it was great! I got to keep some of my firsties from the previous year, change up my teaching techniques, and get amazing parental support.

The hardest part of teaching a combo class, is the classroom management. I struggled with, "How do I get my students to be able to know what to do, when to do it, and allow me time to work with smaller groups of kids?" I finally came up with this board:

They can do the three things in any order. I set the timer for the day (usually 45 minutes). They have to learn to manage their time too! The numbers next to the students' names are the order they go in to work on the computer. At the computers, they have a choice of three-five different tasks they can work on during their 7 minutes. To the left of this board is an explanation of what the different tasks mean as well as their spelling words for the week.

My favorite part of this board, was that it allowed students to walk over, know exactly what they are to do, and it becomes part of their routine. This made life SO much easier for subs walking in the door. I would write in my sub plans, "They are on auto-pilot during this time. You can monitor the class and check in on ______ and _______ as they tend to 'forget' what to do at times."

I thought about printing off each individual student's tasks for the week and put it in their BEACH Binder, but thought better of it. I didn't want to be responsible for more paperwork and be committed to this board, should I decide to change it up.

I also have a board at the back of the room with almost the same idea, but for math. This board (which I don't have a picture of) had these tasks: computer, iPads, Task Cards, Flash Cards, Math Notebook (Interactive Notebook by Yvonne Crawford).

I'm hoping to use these boards again even though I'm not teaching a combo class this year. It has helped so much in just classroom management of daily life alone, that I can't see giving it up!

What types of reading or math classroom management helps you during the day?

Explain Yourself!

I have one more week of Winter Break and I'm slowly gearing up for the change back into waking up at 5am. This week I've had two nightmares about work! How strange. 

During the break, I've been pretty relaxed. I got to spend time with friends and family, go to a beautiful wedding at the beach, wear sandals for the crazy California weather we're having, and cuddle on the couch with my kiddo. 

I also had a few chances to create some new items for my teacher stores. I wanted to create a set of task cards that challenges students to show that they fully understand certain math ideas. My second graders have been learning about regrouping, but some are having a hard time explaining to me the "how" when I ask them about it. I thought, if they knew a problem was wrong, could they explain why it was wrong? So I came up with Explain It Math Task Cards (Second Grade). I can't wait to use them!!!

Slacker!? Who, ME?!

Who has two thumbs and has been slacking off in her blogging? THIS GIRL!!!

Yes, it's true, I admit it...my New Year's Resolution has gone by the wayside. But that's okay, I'm human. It's what we do. We slack off work and then tend to pick it back up and continue on our way as if nothing...err...something? happened!

So as my year is winding down, I'm finding myself doing more and more things that make me happy, rather than productive. My newest adventure is makeup. Yes, makeup. But I'm not here to bore you with makeup.

I've been spending a lot of time making things. Messes mostly. I'm doing things that get my easily distracted mind off of all the stress of the last few weeks of school.

As I type this, I should be grading tests so I can start finish report cards! THAT'S where my brain is these days!

ANYwho...

So making task cards seems to be my new favorite hobby. They're my current favorite, too! Telling time! Here's a sneak peek (click the pic):

We are just finishing up the topic of Time in math. I am hoping to get these printed, cut, and laminated so the kids can play it before the end of the year! I plan on making quarter hour task cards too. Look for those in the next few weeks.  Maybe this will help squash the, "When do we go home?" questions I've been getting from the kids lately. Crossing my fingers!

Task Cards

Okay, so task cards are new to me. I've seen them posted for the people I follow, but never really checked them out. Today I was hanging out with a friend who showed me some she uses in her classroom. All I could think of was BRILLIANT!!!

If you aren't familiar with how these work, there are enough cards for each student desk. You place one on each desk. Students then walk about the room answering the questions (or tasks) on their answer sheet.

Seriously brilliant! My friend says you can use these not just as an activity during language arts time, but as a finish early task as well. Or she has some that she put on an O ring and flips through them to have the kids answer as they walk out the door. Another brilliant idea!

I'm thinking, you could use them as a PowerPoint warm up on the Promethean Board, or as part of board language. If you cut them out then laminate them, they'll last even longer! I made these tonight and I can't wait to try these out in the next few weeks! Check them out by clicking on the picture below.